Uranium City

Historical Photos of Uranium City

Main Street - 1956

Welcome to Uranium City - 1956

Eldorado Townsite

Uranium City Homes

Lorado Milling Complex - 1957

Gunnar Conveyor lines

Main Street - 1956

Gunnar Mine - 1957​

Eldorado Mine

One of the very first geological surveys that was conducted by Joseph B. Tyrrell in the Lake Athabasca area during 1893, had noted the occurrence of iron-rich hills and sediments in the Fish Hook Bay Area. The small bay area would also eventually become known as the Nicholson that was first prospected and staked for iron in 1920. Prospecting of these iron deposits were not considered very economical as test pitting and trenching had revealed ore that was below commercial grade and not worth developing.

Uranium City is commonly known as a settlement town with a population of 200 residence according to the 2006 Census. The small town settlement is rather located at a distance of 50 km south of the provincial boundary line with the North West Territories, and 75 km east of the Saskatoon-Alberta Border. It was first commonly in habited by the Aboriginal Culture, and the British establishment of fur trading in Canada. By the 1930’s, things began to change as gold discoveries along with silver became discovered in the Beaverlodge Lake Area. These mines were among the smaller development projects to come up as the gold boom had ended in 1940.

A prospector by the name of John Nicholson had also just retired from the Royal North West Mounted Police at the time. He also shortly after had gain the position of being a manager of the Mineral Belt Locators Syndicate. With this taking place, Nicholson had eventually sent a crew to the future Nicholson Lake Site by 1929 to re-stake it. Not only were these two famous for discovering the Nicholson Lake Project but had also secured stakes in precious base metals of nickel, uranium, and copper minerals. By this time, Nicholson had rather landed in a sump as the prices for uranium and copper were extremely low in value to develop a project considered at economical standard.

Prospecting that was undertaken in the area during 1930, had also eventually led to the discovery of uranium minerals. Uranium at the this time was not much more than a curiosity as the market was not high, but it became extremely valuable during the discovery of Nuclear Fusion and it massive energy producing potential that led to an international atomic energy race. Several companies at the time had came globally as the search for uranium had sent more than several old and new companies to Canada.

By this time, gold was eventually discovered in 1933, which had led Nicholson to believe that there was gold on his claim. It was at this point in time when operations were abandoned on the Uranium-Copper occurrence as a new showing consisting of gold-uranium-and nickel was discovered by 11935. This at the time, had led to a new incorporation as Nicholson had incorporated the J. D. Nicholson Mines, Limited, in 936.The company’s main projective had been mainly aimed at developing an underground gold mining operation that would become the Nicholson Lake Mine. It was in 1944, when the Eldorado Mining and Refining Company, Limited, was formed under the laws of Canada at the time. The purpose of this was to secure land and develop a valuable mining project that contained U-Ag-Au-Co-and Cu values. It was at this time when exploration work, followed by Provincial Government Funding had establish what would become Uranium City and Eldorado. Eldorado at the time was a small company town which was largely incorporated by the approval of the Provincial Government of Canada. With this came the building of several milling facilities for the purpose of concentrating ore that came from the Eldorado Mine. This would also allow for the development of a refining plant at Port Hope, that would secure contracts in order for refining ore from some of the biggest Uranium Oxide Projects in Canada at the time. Within 1949, ongoing geological surveying was being conducted by the geological survey department in which was carried out by S. Kaiman. He would go on to discovering athabascaite while conducting a researching program on radioactive materials. This would also give the lake its name as it was strongly referred as Lake Athabasca, and had many uranium precious metal mines surrounding it. Uranium City and Eldorado were all considered to have been dangerous places at the time. Many people had no idea just what radioactive material could do as policies during that time were not considered to have been so strong. Mining resulted in transporting ore to the major concentrators at Eldorado, Lorado, and Gunnar Mines. It was back in the early 1950’s, when Uranium City became quite impressive for providing the British and United States with the required amounts of Radium and Uranium for their Nuclear Program. Apart from this, the Provincial Government of Canada had better plans in providing the required radium and uranium under market standards. This had also followed by the incorporation of a whole new company that became in charge of developing these U-Ag-Au-Co-precious metal mines. This whole new company became recognized as the Eldorado Mining and Refining Company, Limited.

During 1953, the Eldorado Mining and Smelting Company, Limited, had place their mine into full production. With this had also came the completion of the newly formed town known as Uranium City, and had shortly after spark massive interest in exploring and prospecting the area. It was by 1956, when the Government had also made a special government jurisdiction as it made way for the importance of mining uranium and radium, along with other precious metals. This was also followed by the development of several other large to smaller operations by the 1950’s. It was also during that year when the larger size community would open its very first post office that was run by postmaster John Edgar Hamlin. Other accommodations that came with the development of mining and a thriving community status, was the main hospital. Uranium City was beyond far from any hospitals nearby and was only access by taking a float plane or the ice road on Lake Athabasca. This type of isolation resulted in the aid of the provincial and federal governments when capital from tax payer money was put into this development. Mines had also possessed as serious danger towards human life in the worst conditions, and this required a nearby hospital for serious accidents that may occur. One of the very first stores to have opened up was mainly being held in a tent and had been operated by Gus“The Famous” Hawker. Gus Hawker was rather known as an English immigrant who had made headlines back home when he chartered a plane and flew to London with his six daughters to see Queen Elizabeth’s coronation.Several tents and shacks had also sprung up along the down-townarea, which was then service by a hotel, bars, cafes, and even a movie theatre. During this outbreak, Main Street, was designed and engineered which had shortly after become busy at night as it in the day, and the flood of men and money outdid the Klondike Rush of the century.

It was in from 1957 to 1961, when the Lorado Mill had operated, and produce nearly 227,000 cubic meters of tailings. With this taking place, much of the tailings weremainly discardedand dumped beside Nero Lake. The tailings that came from mining of the ore-body had also been extremely acidic towards the environment and this had triggered for an environmental impact statement for the clean up project, and water contamination that had nearly killed all living things in it. There was no fish in Nero Lake as it was reported by locals, instead it had looked like an open field that was excavated for the purpose of forestry operations. It was also followed by the Gunnar Milling operations that caused sever damages to the environment over time, and had operated from the 1950’s to the early 1960’s. During the early to mid 1950’s, Uranium City had seen a boast as Telephone Service was added to this area. With the much need equipment , the Government and the Eldorado Mining and Refining Company had made it possible for developing a banking business, while the post office was establish within the communities jail. Uranium City became so independent that nearly 10,000 people resided here, and this resulted in obtaining city status for a small town that had been build around gold-uranium-silver-cobalt-nickel and copper mines. Some of the best silver values were also obtained through the processing of radioactive pitchblende that was used for the sale of uranium as a nuclear weaponry program establish by the British and Americans. Uranium City became shortly after very important towards its major contribution towards nuclear weaponry for the United States and British Armed forces.The supply of uranium became so dead heated that in 1959, Prince Phillip had would pay a visit to the area. However, Uranium City would soon fall apart as the American and British would cancel their contracts for Canadian Uranium. Almost all the mines had no choice but to close down as no steady market was available for the production of uranium, and the Eldorado Mine was the only working mine. The reason being because the Eldorado Mining and Refining Company was known as a federal corporation who had operated along side with the Provincial Government. These impacts had produce significant gamma radiation along with incontrollable radon concerns that had came from uranium mining like else where in Canada. It was also from 1955 to 1970, when the post master became replace by E.A Garton (Ed). With nearly several mines shut down, the Provincial Government and the Eldorado Mining and Refining Company had no choice but to move forward. With the right move in place, this had resulted in a growth towards Uranium City once again.A second wave of uranium production was only heating up when the Canadian Government had began to stockpile uranium for the Candu. As business progress, many people had once again resided in Uranium City as the population had unwind once again. This had also provided locals with new way to cash in as investment was a big part of many businesses and miners had once again occupied the area with their families. The need for workers became very challenging due to the isolation and the fact that Uranium City was only access by float plane during the summer months. With this had also came the need for survival as winter became extremely cold and the route of transportation was strictly aimed towards dog sleds and snowmobiles.Many people had immigrated to this area as it had once again showed economical potential and many of these workers had came from the Philippines, and even Germany. At this time, the Eldorado Mining and Refining Company had place nearly $100 million towards building accommodations, housing complexes, and even road ways were engineered.

Uranium City had once again became active as a frontier of the far west, and bush pilots, prospectors, and trappers were as much a part of the town life as the miners and retailers. Each of these categories had also become one of the main importance towards making up a bulk of the population in Uranium City and Eldorado. The Eldorado Mine was quite a far distance from the past boom town of Uranium City, which need room for a second mining town called Eldorado. A total of two air strips had accommodated the needs for flights and freight into the vast wilderness of rugged hillsides and forested areas. Development of saw mills had also acted as a way to produce wood by forestry operations that acted as a way to built the many structures that still stand partly demolish.

The establishment of Uranium City was not an easy persuasion as many aspect for its time period. Demands were also made towards community relations and the evolution of a company, and not least the participation of the Canadian Government. People would only fear for the worst as Uranium City became developed and the company along with the government had predicted safe environmental impact measure plans. Statements from these plans reported that the mines would only contribute minimal direct impacts and large negative externalities to one with large positive and direct impacts towards the environment.

By the mid 70’s, Uranium City and Eldorado had soon become their own stable communities and yet, accessible only by air and the winter road. Summers and winters were also spent outdoors for the majority of the time and stepping into the country, one felt hundreds of miles of uninhabited territory out beyond the town, and at night, the Northern Lights Crackled overhead. It was after the shady weaponry business, when Canada had adapted to new approaches on selling uranium oxides. As new technology became available, this would also result in developing new ways to use uranium as they were needed for Japan Candu Reactors and even for nuclear power in Canada.Uranium markets were rather unstable at the time as they would move up and downwards, and the production from these uranium mines had lasted from the 1960’s to 1996. Uranium is also produce within Saskatchewan as it acts as a principal economical boaster for the province, and are currently operated by Cameco. Many changes were shortly after made during the early parts of the 1980’s, when Eldorado Nuclear had decided to suspend mining operations at its Beaverlodge Mine Site. This had resulted in a complete change around as Eldorado Nuclear would be shortly after going out of business. The effect of this closure had many people gathering their things and leaving Uranium City and Eldorado as a Ghsot-town. Uranium City along with Eldorado had gone from a population of nearly 5,000 to 10,000 residence, to only 300 people. There was no steady economy as jobs were lost and only very little was left to survive on. Many of the houses, along with the stores have been forgotten and the once thriving city was only a ghost-town when the mines had shut down. Population in Uranium City was majorly decreasing in size and this resulted in several business shut down which included the Canada Post Office.